The Unintended

Chapter 5

Hunter got back to his house just in time and closed the curtains, letting very little light into the room. The sun had come up, so he had to limit his exposure. The whole thing about vampires bursting into flame in sunlight is bullshit. Vampires can go in sunlight, but they burn quickly and severely in direct sunlight. If a vampire ventures out on a sunny day, it is best they cover up and limit their time out.

He had laid her on his bed gently and covered her with a fluffy comforter, running his fingers lightly across her forehead, moving the hair off her bandage. He watched her sleep for a moment, struck by how beautiful she was. She had flawless natural skin and dark, enchanting hair. He couldn’t understand why or who could be such an animal to hurt this girl the way they did. He changed out of his bloody clothes from carrying her and sat on the recliner in the corner of his room. He watched over her patiently, reading the news on his phone until she woke up.

A couple of hours passed before Mira’s eyes fluttered. Her head was pounding like a church bell and she was dizzy, even though she was lying down. She groaned quietly and turned her head from side to side. Her stirring got Hunter’s attention. She opened her eyes and realized she was in a different place. It was quiet; she was in a soft bed, wrapped in a clean blue comforter. She slowly sat up to get a better look at her surroundings and she instinctively sniffed the air. What in the hell is that smell? She asked herself. Her memory flashed before her eyes, bright lights, then darkness.

“Um, hello.” said Hunter.

Mira startled and jumped from the bed to him. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifted him from the chair, and slammed him against the wall. Her eyes were glowing deep yellow and her fangs descended. She growled in his face, daring him to move.

In response, Hunter let his fangs down and hissed at her. Mira immediately stopped growling and c****d her head to the side, much like a dog would. He raised his hands slowly. “I will not hurt you.” he said.

Mira stared at him. Soon her face softened, the glow in her eyes disappeared, and her fangs retracted. She let go of him and backed away slowly several feet, not taking her eyes off of him. She looked down at her arms, relieved to see they were hers, and noticed the hospital gown.

Hunter stayed against the wall with his hands up. He didn’t want to scare her anymore than she was already.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“We are at my house. You were hurt, so I brought you here to help.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Hunter.” he drawled, letting his hands down. She didn’t like that. He noticed her take a charging posture. He raised his hands again. “Look, I don’t know what happened to you. We ran into each other last night. I took you to a hospital and brought you here. No doubt you have a lot of questions. I’m here to help. You got a name?”

She looked around the room again and reached for the tape on her forehead and ran her fingers over it gently. She then moved her fingers to her lip and felt the stitch the doctor put in.

“Mira. What happened? And why do you have fangs?”

“Hi Mira, I’m not sure what happened. I was hoping you could tell me. As for the fangs, well, it looks like we have a lot to talk about. Can I put my arms down?”

She nodded at him. He let his arms down as he stepped away from the wall. She jerked and took a step back.

“You’re going to have to trust me. I promise I will not hurt you. Ill tell you what... Are you hungry? Why don’t you take a shower. My ex left a box of clothes here. I’m sure there is something in there that will fit you. I will get us something to eat, then we will talk, okay?”

Mira looked at him and nodded, but stayed silent. She was starving. Truth be told, she felt she could use a shower, too. Hunter moved slowly, keeping his hands where she could see them. He pointed her to the bathroom and went to the closet to get the box of clothes Amy left behind and slid it to her. “Towels are on the shelf in there.” he said.

“Thank you.” She said.

Mira’s pov

I was sore from head to toe and the hot water felt amazing. I was so tired, confused, and didn’t understand what was happening. Trying to remember the events of last night is difficult, but I can only remember small fragments. I didn’t know Hunter at all, but he made me feel safe. And why in the hell does he have fangs? I either stepped into some weird parallel universe or I have lost my mind. I don’t understand how I got away, or how I ripped those men apart, with no effort. Memories of what those bastards did to me crept in, and I cried. No matter how hard I scrubbed, I felt dirty.

There was a gentle tap at the door. “The food is almost ready.” Said Hunter.

“Okay, be out in a minute.” I shouted, rinsing off one last time and turned the water off. I slid the glass door open and grabbed the towel I had set out, quickly drying myself off. After digging through the small box of clothes, I settled on a cute black jogging suit and the sneakers from the bottom of the box. It looked warm and comfortable, which is exactly what I need right now. I looked at myself in the mirror before getting dressed. My dark brown eyes, highlighted with a shiner, looked back at me. Turning around, I could see different color bruises covering me, from my shoulders to my hips. The sight made me feel like crying again. I towel dried my hair, put on the clothes and left the bathroom to find Hunter and the food he promised. My God, I was so hungry.

I walked through the bedroom, following the smell of pure deliciousness out to the living room, and saw Hunter setting the table. He had gone above and beyond. Set on the table was a plate of steak and eggs, with a bowl of fresh fruit and a tall glass of orange juice. I like steak but well done, that is until I saw the rare steak on the plate in its own juices and I went ravenous.

“Sit.” he gestured to me.

I sat down and started on the steak immediately. I don’t know how he knew, but it was the perfect meal. The meat hit the spot. I thought it was a little strange since I have never eaten my steak rare, but now it was the best thing I have ever had. He was so kind to let me get the food down without prying or digging for answers too soon. I don’t think he knew where to start; I didn’t either.

“So, what happened to you?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. I remember running and the next thing I know, I wake up here.”

“What were you running from?”

I turned my head away from him, feeling tears well in my eyes. I told him the story.

“My roommate and I, Alyssa, were at a party. We were doing what people did at a party, mingling, flirting... drinking. I remember Alyssa hanging on this guy, Todd. He and his friends gave me a bad vibe, and I wanted to go, but Alyssa didn’t. I don’t remember much after that except waking up in a room in a basement. No clothes, no Alyssa. I was there for days, or weeks; I don’t know. The things these guys did to me...” she trailed off, looking away, tears running down her face.

“It’s okay. Go on.” he said.

Mira regained her composure. “These guys were brutal. They filmed everything they did to me. I know I wasn’t the only one, and I don’t know what happened to Alyssa. I could hear other women screaming from my room.”

“How did you get away?”

“This is the weird part. You will not believe me. I think I might be crazy.”

“Try me.” he said smiling.

“I changed into something, somehow. I lost control of myself and ripped them apart. I killed two of them and hurt another one. I got out and ran until I felt a hit. That’s all I remember.”

“Yeah, the hit would have been my Mercedes. When did they turn you?”

“Turn me? I don’t understand the question.”